Anchor Advice

JohnnyMW · 05 November 2016, 10:22

Hi I'm needing an anchor for my new Vipermax 6.8. Was wondering whether anyone had experience of the Fortress or Guardian anchors as the primary. I like the idea of a light anchor but wondered about anchoring on different bottoms. I've always had a 6kg Lewmar Delta in the past - anyone with any thoughts or experience please. Cheers

C-NUMB · 05 November 2016, 12:52

I was just the other day reading a local boat magazine anchor test. The winner was
a Mantus anchor. No own experience though, that one can be difficult to place on a rib?

Mantus Anchors - Mantus Anchors

beamishken · 05 November 2016, 15:56

A delta is a prety good all-rounder but some of the newer versions get good reviews like the rocna etc but a delta does me

jonp · 06 November 2016, 02:22

If you want a smaller lighter anchor with more holding power and reduced enviromentle Impact then take a look at sarca anchors Super SARCA Anchor - anchorright.com.au. I've used them on my last two boats in everything from sand, shingle, mud and reef. It's good having confidence in an anchor especially if you end up leaving the boat while diving.

Jon

JohnnyMW · 06 November 2016, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonp

If you want a smaller lighter anchor with more holding power and reduced enviromentle Impact then take a look at sarca anchors Super SARCA Anchor - anchorright.com.au. I've used them on my last two boats in everything from sand, shingle, mud and reef. It's good having confidence in an anchor especially if you end up leaving the boat while diving.

Jon

Look good. It can't find a UK outlet any ideas?

jonp · 06 November 2016, 13:07

They state they sell them all over the world, I believe they are the only anchor endorsed by Loyds of London too. Shame you are so far away as I have a spare I kept from my last boat which is to big for my 550 pro.

Poly · 06 November 2016, 15:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonp

They state they sell them all over the world, I believe they are the only anchor endorsed by Loyds of London too. Shame you are so far away as I have a spare I kept from my last boat which is to big for my 550 pro.

Presumably you mean lloyds register (a marine classification society) not llyods of London (an insurer). that said, I'd be surprised if they had only type approved one anchor.

lakelandterrier · 06 November 2016, 17:19

Cleer desighn, but looks rather bulky for a rib where it normally has to fit into a bow locker.

Ideal if secured on a pulpit roller fitting.

GuyC · 06 November 2016, 19:57

A stainless steel anchor seems like a good idea but I'd be concerned about galvanic corrosion if a 'normal' galvanised chain is used. The reaction between the stainless and the zinc in the galvanising will have the zinc off in short order. This will then open up the steel chain to both galvanic corrosion and rusting.

If you have a stainless anchor you should probably also actor in stainless chain and make sure you use stainless shackles.

JohnnyMW · 06 November 2016, 20:06

Thanks for replies so far - anyone out there with experience of the fortress or guardian? They seem really light but effective. Cheers

jonp · 06 November 2016, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poly

Presumably you mean lloyds register (a marine classification society) not llyods of London (an insurer). that said, I'd be surprised if they had only type approved one anchor.

Yes that's the one!!!

jonp · 07 November 2016, 06:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Cleer desighn, but looks rather bulky for a rib where it normally has to fit into a bow locker.

Ideal if secured on a pulpit roller fitting.

Its for a 6.8 m rib, Im sure there would be enough room on that.

This is the size 2 which is much bigger than I need in my 550 pro, theres also a fire regulation 10 lt bucket 100m or 12mm rope and chain and a flaot for anchor recovery.

paulbrown22 · 07 November 2016, 10:37

I can't instantly remember what sizes, but we have an aluminium Fortress as a kedge and an aluminium Spade anchor as the main anchor on our 40' (aluminium!) sailing yacht.

I find holding power and ability to dig in with the Fortress very good - we often deploy it from the dinghy as a kedge when anchoring to dry out on a beach, and it's never failed to dig in deeply, despite just being dropped from the dinghy and then manually hauled in, and only having ~4m chain on it.

Depending on where/how you will stow on the RIB, as a Danforth-style anchor the Fortress has quite a few protruding bits. So whilst it lies flat nicely, the shank and stock can sometimes make it a bit trickier to stow on a smaller boat.

We used to use some generic Danforth-style anchor as our primary on a 6.5m RIB. Apart from stowage, that worked pretty well, but I definitely rate the Fortress above the generic ones.

I'd absolutely buy both the Fortress and Spade again.

JohnnyMW · 08 November 2016, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulbrown22

I can't instantly remember what sizes, but we have an aluminium Fortress as a kedge and an aluminium Spade anchor as the main anchor on our 40' (aluminium!) sailing yacht.

I find holding power and ability to dig in with the Fortress very good - we often deploy it from the dinghy as a kedge when anchoring to dry out on a beach, and it's never failed to dig in deeply, despite just being dropped from the dinghy and then manually hauled in, and only having ~4m chain on it.

Depending on where/how you will stow on the RIB, as a Danforth-style anchor the Fortress has quite a few protruding bits. So whilst it lies flat nicely, the shank and stock can sometimes make it a bit trickier to stow on a smaller boat.

We used to use some generic Danforth-style anchor as our primary on a 6.5m RIB. Apart from stowage, that worked pretty well, but I definitely rate the Fortress above the generic ones.

I'd absolutely buy both the Fortress and Spade again.

Thanks Paul I was a bit concerned about the protruding bits too - after lots of research I think I'm going to opt for 6kg rocna anchor or go back to the lewmar delta. Thanks all

longjohn · 08 November 2016, 12:44

swear by a Bruce - and no nasty tube damaging sharp bits

Chris Caton · 08 November 2016, 16:11

I've found the Bruce anchors works well in most situations around The Menai and Anglesey, also worth looking at a leaded anchor rope rather than chain with those nice shiny Vipermax tubes

Liros Leaded Rope Anchor Lines

JohnnyMW · 09 November 2016, 16:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

I've found the Bruce anchors works well in most situations around The Menai and Anglesey, also worth looking at a leaded anchor rope rather than chain with those nice shiny Vipermax tubes

Liros Leaded Rope Anchor Lines

Thanks Chris leased rope looks like a good idea - any experience? As good as chain?

Chris Caton · 09 November 2016, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyMW

Thanks Chris leased rope looks like a good idea - any experience? As good as chain?

no probs Johnny

I've used the leaded ropes for a few seasons now, I got fed up of dragging the chain over the tubes, I've found them great to use, so far the anchor hasn't dragged at all, however I've not needed to anchor in a rough conditions so I can't comment on that, but certainly great for everyday use